Humanitarian Food Security and Resilience Specialist

Job Description

POSITION MANDATE Since 2021, Resonance has worked with the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA) on a project called Mainstreaming Private Sector Engagement in Humanitarian Programming (MAPS-H). This project aims to help USAID/BHA integrate private sector engagement (PSE) in its humanitarian assistance programming and overall operations. The MAPS-H project is designed to offer flexible and on-demand assistance to USAID/BHA, addressing specific PSE and partnership needs through practical support and technical assistance. This includes assignments to uncover potential operational efficiencies and make broader changes to systems. To address the multifaceted humanitarian crisis in Madagascar, USAID/BHA has engaged MAPS-H to carry out a Private Sector Landscape Assessment (PSLA) within Madagascar, focusing specifically on the Grand Sud and Grand Sud-Est regions. Assessment findings will enable USAID/BHA to identify strategic partnerships, leverage resources effectively, and design interventions that not only provide immediate relief but also contribute to the long-term recovery and resilience of Madagascar’s communities. Through this activity, the MAPS-H team will also explore ways to strengthen existing private sector platforms for humanitarian assistance, such as the Madagascar Private Sector Humanitarian Platform (PSHP Madagascar). Objectives- The overarching objectives of this Job Order under MAPS-H are to:

1. Conduct a PSLA to identify potential private sector partners and actionable, scalable, and sustainable opportunities to develop livelihoods. The target regions include Grand Sud Region (comprising Androy and Anosy regions and parts of Atsimo-Andrefana Region) and Grand Sud-Est (comprising Atsimo-Atsinanana, Fitovinany, and Vatovavy regions).
2. Build the capacity of USAID implementing partners to incorporate PSE into programming and implementing activities.
3. Explore ways to strengthen existing private sector platforms for humanitarian assistance (e.g., PSHP Madagascar).
4. Integrate gender and social including as cross-cutting themes across all objectives.

Resonance will engage a Humanitarian Food Security and Resilience Specialist responsible for helping to conduct activities related to the above objectives. Specifically, the Humanitarian Food Security and Resilience Specialist will provide recommendations on appropriate literature and research materials, conduct/support select desk research, identify and provide relevant contacts within Madagascar’s private sector and humanitarian spaces, lead Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), support drafting content for any assignment deliverables, and help lead ideation of possible partnership models for collaboration between USAID/BHA and private sector or other relevant actors that address both business interests and humanitarian/resilience priorities. They will have a strong understanding of the constraints and opportunities related to PSE within a household resilience context in Madagascar or similar shock prone environments. OUTCOMES / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS In coordination with the MAPS-H Activity Team and BHA, the Humanitarian Food Security and Resilience Specialist will be responsible for supporting in the design, coordination, and delivery of the Madagascar PSLA, more specifically for shared value partnership concepts, like leading the ideation of possible partnership models for collaboration between USAID/BHA and private sector or other relevant actors that address both business interests and humanitarian/resilience priorities. To achieve these objectives, the Humanitarian Food Security and Resilience Specialist will carry out the following tasks:

• Provide recommendations on appropriate literature and research materials, and help conduct and analyze desk research;
• Help identify appropriate private sector (multinational, regional, and local) and other relevant stakeholders within the humanitarian system in Antananarivo and focal regions, and as possible, connect the Activity team to relevant local contacts within these organizations;
• Contribute to the design and utilization of research/project tools such as contact lists, interview guides, research tools, etc.;
• Travel to Madagascar for approximately 2 weeks, including to Antananarivo and one target region to conduct field research as part of the PSLA;
• Lead KIIs with stakeholders on the ground in Madagascar to gain relevant insight and explore opportunities for partnership;
• In collaboration with the Activity team, lead conceptualization of partnership models (including hypothetical activities, stakeholders, and roles) involving BHA and private sector or other relevant organizations that are informed by PSLA findings, contextually appropriate/realistic, and support both business interests and humanitarian/resilience priorities;
• Inform specific recommendations for BHA to consider as they look to develop cross-sector partnerships that support humanitarian efforts and improve household resilience in Madagascar;
• Take the lead in drafting select content/sections for PSLA deliverables (e.g., in-brief/out-brief presentations, final deliverable; etc.), and provide a thorough review/input to infuse rigor into content across all PSLA deliverables;
• Take a lead role in presenting PSLA findings, analysis and recommendations to BHA and other key stakeholders;
• Collaborate closely with Activity Team consisting of Resonance home office staff and local consultants, as well as relevant members from USAID/BHA, including participating actively in scheduled check-ins and meetings, and exhibiting responsiveness and strong communication via written and verbal communications.

Deliverables:

• Contribute to a Stakeholder Mapping and Contact List by helping to identify private sector (multinational, regional, and local) and other relevant stakeholders within the humanitarian system.
• Contribute to the design and utilization of research/project tools such as contact lists, interview guides, research framework, etc.
• Contribute to development of interview guides, lead interviews with key informants.
• In collaboration with the Activity Team, lead the conceptualization of approximately 5-8 partnership concepts.
• Support with the development and presentation of PSLA deliverables such as the PowerPoint summarizing desk research findings, in briefing/out briefing presentations, and a final report.

Period of Performance

• The period of performance is expected to take place between March 2024-October 2024.
• Scheduled and Approved Level of Effort: The maximum level of effort for this assignment is 40 days.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in relevant technical area (or Bachelor’s degree with an additional two years of relevant experience), such as business administration, economics, engineering, supply chain management, international development, agricultural studies, humanitarian assistance, or related field;
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience in relevant subject matter/technical areas;
• Strong understanding of humanitarian and resilience challenges facing Madagascar at the macro, community and household levels;
• Strong understanding of the constraints and opportunities related to PSE within a household resilience context in Madagascar, or similar shock prone environments;
• Demonstrated familiarity with Madagascar’s economic and private sector landscape;
• Proven ability to develop and implement market or other qualitative assessments, including designing/developing research tools; conducting interviews; and organizing/analyzing notes and information;
• Experience ideating and building cross-sector, shared value partnerships, preferably in developing contexts such as Madagascar;
• Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills;
• Strong written and oral presentation skills;
• Experience working with USAID and the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance;
• Fluency in English is required; working knowledge of French and/or Malagasy is preferred.

TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS The consultant is expected to travel to Madagascar for approximately 2 weeks, including to Antananarivo and one target region, to conduct field research as part of the PSLA. WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This position operates in a professional office environment, and routinely requires the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. As a part of the responsibilities for this job, the employee is required to communicate, detect, converse with, discern, convey, express oneself, and exchange information orally and in writing with others. The employee must be able to remain in a stationary position, sitting at a desk for prolonged periods, move or traverse inside the office and facilities; operate, activate, use, prepare, inspect, place, detect, or position computers and other office equipment, such as a calculator, copy machine, furniture, and computer printer. The employee must be able to make substantial repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and fingers. The employee must be able to lift and move up to 15lbs at times. WORK AUTHORIZATION / SECURITY CLEARANCE N/A AAP/EEO STATEMENT The Equal Employment Opportunity Policy of Resonance is to provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all associates and job applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation) parental status, genetic information (including family medical history) political affiliation, military service, age, veteran status, disability, or marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. These protections extend to all management practices and decisions, including recruitment and hiring, appraisal systems, promotions, training, and career development programs. Consistent with these obligations, Resonance also provides reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, observances, and practices. Resonance believes that employees should be provided with a working environment which enables each associate to be productive and to work to the best of his or her ability. We do not condone or tolerate an atmosphere of intimidation or harassment based on any of the above-mentioned characteristics. We expect and require the cooperation of all employees in maintaining a discrimination and harassment-free atmosphere. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls or emails please.

About the Organization

WHO WE ARE: Come grow with us! If you are a passionate change agent who thrives in a collaborative, entrepreneurial and inclusive, culture committed to operational excellence, we would like to meet you. At Resonance, you get involved in the work, in the field, not just in the deck. Our teams are autonomous and self-sufficient. You get to weigh in with founders and leaders on how to drive change and grow the movement while growing the company. Resonance is an award-winning, Certified B Corporation consultancy that delivers market-based solutions to address the world's toughest challenges. We enable a variety of donor, commercial, and investor clients around the world to catalyze lasting impact. Resonance seeks to catalyze large-scale social, environmental, and economic change by fostering new and dynamic forms of collaboration. We do this by fostering public-private partnerships, facilitating sustainable investment, and providing deep analytical insights in frontier markets.